Fun Forest Bug Facts For Kids
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Also famous as the red-legged shieldbug, the forest bug is a large, brownish tree-dwelling woodland insect that is very common in habitats such as woodland edges, forests, gardens, and agricultural lands. Unlike other shield bugs, these forest bugs have sharp shoulders.
They have a shield-shaped back, red-brown to orange legs, and projections in front of the pronotum.
Adult forest bugs may be spotted in deciduous forests and woodland edges mostly from July to November. The food of the species primarily comprises sap extracted from the veins of deciduous hazel, beech, and oak trees.
Although these bugs are widespread in Britain, human activities and the presence of predators have proved to be threatening for their population. Predators of the species include several birds, amphibians, and reptiles, while innumerable farmers see the bug as a pest.
Insecticides and pesticides are sprayed to protect the crops and trees and to get rid of these insects. This may cause great damage to these forest bugs of the Pentatomidae family.
If you want to get acquainted with the forest bug then continue to read. For more relatable content, check out these fungus beetle facts and wood tick facts for kids.
Forest Bug Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a forest bug?
The forest bug (Pentatoma rufipes) is a common insect species of the Pentatoma genus.
What class of animal does a forest bug belong to?
Classified under the Pentatomidae family, forest bugs have been put under the class Insecta.
How many forest bugs are there in the world?
As per estimations, a whopping ten quintillion bugs are currently existent throughout the world. There are innumerable bug species that are yet to be discovered. However, due to a lack of evidence, the number of forest bugs surviving within their geographical woodland habitats cannot be clearly stated.
Where does a forest bug live?
The species can be found across several countries in Europe. The population of the forest bug is pretty widespread and common within its geographical range. If you reside somewhere in Rutland or Leicestershire in England, then you might commonly see these bugs in your garden or in woodland around July or August.
What is a forest bug's habitat?
Typical forest bug habitats primarily consist of deciduous forests and woodlands. The species can also be found in orchards, gardens, and agricultural areas where they can get access to a variety of fruit and nut trees.
Who do forest bugs live with?
Forest bugs can form colonies as well as stay apart from the crowd.
How long does a forest bug live?
Generally, forest bugs have a life expectancy of one to two years in their woodland habitats. Queen termites can even thrive for 50 long years! Since the exact details of the forest bug's longevity are not known, it can be inferred that the species lives for around a year or two.
How do they reproduce?
Adults are abundantly available from the months of July to November. After breeding in the summer months, the eggs are laid in woodland on the bark of deciduous trees such as the oak.
Generally, the females lay eggs in August, and by the end of August these eggs hatch. The nymphs undergo the molting stages and after the third stage is completed around June, they develop into full-grown adults (the final stage) by July of the next year.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the forest bug (Pentatoma rufipes) has not been recorded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and hence, the species falls under the Not Evaluated status.
Forest Bug Fun Facts
What do forest bugs look like?
These flat-looking forest bugs are pretty large as insects. The color of their body changes a little - during summer the body color is a light shade of bronze, while in the autumn season, they are hued in dark brown.
They possess red-brown to orange legs while the edges of the scutella are marked with cream to red-orange. The connexium is banded with reddish, light blue, and dark brown bands.
These bugs lack the red tinge on their shoulders and eyes that are extremely pronounced in the red-shouldered bug.
The forest bug exhibits tiny spikes on its broad shoulders. On the other hand, the most prominent characteristic that helps you identify the species is the pair of projections from its shoulders, near the dorsal thorax.
Young ones have a lighter shade that darkens gradually with maturity. If you look from a distance, it might appear as if they have a shield attached to their back.
How cute are they?
Bugs are not at all cute to most people. Quite contrarily, people often get grossed out at the thought of insects like cockroaches or bugs. Moreover, the dull and shabby color of this bug makes them look less than cute.
How do they communicate?
Insects, in general, interact via innumerable signals and vibrations. While searching for mates you may hear these bugs emitting calls and sounds. Tactile, visual, and chemical signals are normally used for communication with other members of the colony.
How big is a forest bug?
The average length of the forest bug ranges from 0.4-0.5 in (11-14 mm). The species is smaller than the giant water bug measuring about 0.4-4.7 in (0.9-12 cm) in length.
How fast can a forest bug move?
The accurate speed of these forest bugs needs to be examined in more detail but it can be inferred that they are as agile as other insects. Some insects can even attain a speed of 30 mph (48 kph).
Adults can be seen flying among trees searching for food. However, they're not known to be blinded while moving at a high speed like the tiger beetle.
How much does a forest bug weigh?
The average weight of forest bugs has not yet been deciphered and requires detailed scientific research.
What are the male and female names of the species?
These male and female bugs do not have any unique designations. They're simply commonly referred to as male and female forest bugs.
What would you call a baby forest bug?
A baby forest bug does not have any special attributions. Like all other baby insects, they're regarded as larvae. Sometimes the term 'nymph' is also used to refer to immature invertebrates.
What do they eat?
The forest bug diet mainly comprises sap from trees but also includes insects. These bugs are known to be polyphagous and they feed on fruits like cherry and apple.
However, their primary food is derived from the sap of a variety of trees such as alder, hazel, and oak trees. Mainly, adults project a partially predatory nature as they can be spotted feeding on both fruits and insects, including caterpillars.
Are they harmful?
The forest shield bug dwells in forest trees which means that they are carriers of several germs. Although they're pretty harmless insects, they may cause allergic reactions in some humans.
If a forest bug bites, it can cause swelling and itching on the skin. Any severe aftereffects of a bug bite need medical supervision. Moreover, they're considered pests as they can be found in gardens or orchards feeding on apples, pears, and cherries.
Would they make a good pet?
You might see the field cricket being maintained by some insect admirers but wild insects like bugs are usually not reared as pets. Instead they are often treated as pests. Mostly found in homes, the forest bow bug is another insect that is known for causing a nuisance by destroying carpets or bow hair.
Did you know...
The red-legged shieldbug possesses a piercing mouthpart that aids the insect to feed on sap or liquid from the vein of oak, hazel, and alder trees.
Similar to the forest bug, the clover mite is another insect that possesses red legs.
Is the forest bug important to the environment?
Wild insects form an indispensable and essential part of our forest biodiversity. The food chain would be greatly affected by the absence of these tiny yet significant creatures, creating an imbalance.
Forest bug adaptations, such as mouthparts developed for sap-sucking, as well as legs and feet for activities like digging and jumping, have helped them to thrive even in adverse conditions.
However, the forest bug is considered to be an agricultural pest by the farmers as they can be found feeding on fruits and nut trees. Insecticides and pesticides sprayed on trees and plants result in nervous system damages.
What is the difference between a forest bug and a beetle?
The major difference between a bug and a beetle is their mouthparts. While the former has a mouthpart apt for piercing into the veins of trees, the latter comes with a chewing mouthpart.
Another distinction is the diet. Beetles can be found feeding on innumerable vegetable materials from plants and trees, while forest bugs mostly draw sap for sustenance. Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera whereas bugs are from the Hemiptera order.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods from our elm seed bug fun facts and atlas beetle facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bug coloring pages.
The first image is by Lairich Rig.
The second image is by Alchemist-hp.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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